Colorado Deer Season 2026-27
Colorado deer season dates start with Aug 15, 2026-Jan 31, 2027. The table below keeps every listed deer row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
Colorado's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Oct 14-18, 2026.
Archery - West of I-25 and GMU 140 Deer (Mule/Whitetail) opens Sep 2, 2026 and closes Sep 30, 2026.
Private Land Only (PLO) Deer opens Aug 15, 2026 and closes Jan 31, 2027.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
Deer
Deer
Private Land Only (PLO)
Aug 15, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
PLO deer season lies within August 15 - January 31 annually. Limited either-sex and antlerless deer licenses issued by GMU/DAU as needed. PLO buck licenses available where necessary.
Zone: Private Land Only
Deer
Rifle - First Regular (Optional Deer)
Oct 14-18, 2026
5-day season opening first Wednesday after October 8th. Deer and elk combined season, deer hunting is optional. All optional deer licenses are limited. Antlered and antlerless deer or antlered deer only, issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Deer
Rifle - Second Regular Combined
Oct 24-Nov 1, 2026
9-day season followed by 5-day break. Opens on Saturday, includes two full weekends. All deer licenses limited. Antlered and antlerless deer or antlered deer only, issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Deer
Rifle - Third Regular Combined
Nov 7-15, 2026
9-day season followed by 2-day break. Opens on Saturday. All deer licenses limited. Antlered and antlerless deer or antlered deer only, issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Deer
Rifle - Fourth Regular Combined (Optional Deer)
Nov 18-22, 2026
5-day season. Deer and elk combined, deer hunting is optional. All licenses limited. Limited either-sex or limited antlered, and limited antlerless; issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Deer - High Country
Rifle - High Country
Sep 12-20, 2026
Limited 9-day antlered deer season, opening first or second Saturday of September to avoid Labor Day weekend.
Zone: High Country/Wilderness portions of select deer units
Deer - Plains
Archery - Plains
Oct 1-Dec 31, 2026
Plains archery deer season runs 10/01-10/23 and 11/04-11/30 and 12/15-12/31 OR 10/01-10/23 and 11/04-12/31 OR 10/01-11/30 and 12/15-12/31 depending on unit. Season closes during plains rifle seasons. All licenses limited, either-sex or antlered deer only, issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: East of I-25 except GMU 140
Deer - Plains
Muzzleloader - Plains
Oct 10-18, 2026
9-day season starting second Saturday of October. All licenses limited. Antlered and antlerless deer or antlered deer only, issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: East of I-25 except GMU 140
Deer - Plains
Rifle - Plains Regular
Oct 24-Nov 3, 2026
11-day season starting Saturday of last full weekend of October. All licenses limited. Antlered and antlerless deer or antlered deer only, issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: East of I-25 except GMU 140
Deer - Plains
Rifle - Late Plains
Dec 1-14, 2026
Late plains rifle deer season, fixed dates annually. All licenses limited. Antlered and antlerless deer or antlered deer only, issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: East of I-25 except GMU 140
Deer (Mule/Whitetail)
Archery - West of I-25 and GMU 140
Sep 2-30, 2026
29-day season. All archery deer licenses are limited either-sex or limited buck, issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
Deer (Mule/Whitetail)
Muzzleloader - West of I-25 and GMU 140
Sep 12-20, 2026
9-day season opening second Saturday of September. Limited either-sex or limited antlered, and limited antlerless in some GMUs; all licenses issued by GMU/DAU.
Zone: West of I-25 and GMU 140
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